English/Key Competences

General Information on Course Registration

Before attending the course

The prerequisite for taking all English courses at Zessko, without exception, is the placement test. Because there are six different levels of courses in the English department, you can only register for a course if you have taken the placement test and if the results are saved in our electronic system.

The result of the placement test is binding and has to match the score listed as a prerequisite for the course you wish to enroll in. Present your student ID (PUCK card) at the test.

Students who would like to repeat the placement test must present proof before they take the test again that they have in the meantime successfully completed a language course of at least 4 semester hours (60 x 45 minutes) or have studied abroad.

The placement test for the English department is valid for at least three years, so long as the result is shown under “My test results” in PULS under “My placement tests,” or for the preparatory courses and the courses in legal English shown in EES.

Costs

All English courses in the UNIcert framework, as well as supervised independent study courses, are free of cost for students at the University of Potsdam.

The Integrative preparatory courses at levels I and II are an additional learning opportunity for students who have reached the B2 level of the Common European Framework Reference (CEFR) upon completion of their school studies and have scored between 40 and 69 points on the English placement test. The fee schedule specifies a fee for these courses. You will receive precise information on how to pay these course fees with your registration confirmation.

You can find current information on course offerings, course descriptions, and other information in PULS.

Instructions for students in teacher-training and Master’s courses of study, as well as ERASMUS and other exchange programs

Students who belong to the aforementioned groups and are interested in attending a course should take the placement test, and then they can enroll in an English course of their choice. Students who are taking Englsh courses outside of the key competence framework (BAMA-O, §19) for example teacher-training and Master’s students at the University of Potsdam, or ERASMUS and exchange students, are currently allowed to take these courses if there are extra seats available after places have been distributed to students in non-teacher-training Bachelor’s degree programs at the University of Potsdam.

Students at other universities, Ph.D. students, staff, and external parties

Students who are registered at other universities or a university of applied science, doctoral candidates, Uni Potsdam staff, and interested external parties, can in principle take English courses under the following two conditions: First, these individuals must also take the placement test before being allowed to attend a course. They can be admitted to courses for which placement test results are required if the seats have not been taken by students at the University of Potsdam. Remaining seats are generally given to external parties during or after the first week of the semester. The course fee for this group of people amounts to € 128.00 per semester for courses that meet 4 hours a week, plus any applicable auditor fees for external parties.